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Task force well-equipped for a renewed mission
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Steve Toprani opens an oversized black briefcase and gingerly pulls out a new pair of heavy binoculars.
They are equipped with night vision and video and audio recording options that make it easier for Washington County drug officers to conduct surveillance.
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Those binoculars and other newly acquired police tools, he said, are imperative to the success of his overhauled drug task force. Police, he said, were hardly inconspicuous when they spied on a crack house using the force's old tape recorder stuffed inside a briefcase that looked as if they belonged in a 1970s spy flick.
Toprani persuaded the White House to spend $200,000 to modernize his force with 10 computers and surveillance equipment that is so good it repairs grainy images.
Before they arrived, police had no choice but to use laptops seized from drug dealers after they were wiped clean of porno-graphy.
"It makes all detectives fully capable of having a mobile office," said Steven Fischer, Toprani's chief of staff. "We've gotten away from Post-it Notes," Toprani added.
It's a major improvement for investigators to now have prior incident reports and arrest records at their fingertips, along with aliases and addresses of suspects.
These changes help to explain why the task force, as of early September, already had made 42 drug arrests - 10 more than all of 2007, when former District Attorney John C. Pettit was in office.
The new task force, Toprani said, is making mid-level dealers its priority rather than street dealers who are best handled by the local police departments. Pettit's focus on small-time dealers "exhausted resources," he said.
While Pettit's drug team kept a large roster of officers, just seven of them had worked more than five hours last year, Toprani said. He also has increased the force's budget from $90,000 last year to $130,000.
"We know we're making a lot of people nervous," he said. "We're rattling the tree pretty hard."
The task force is making a strong and unfamiliar presence in the Mon Valley with the addition of a satellite office in New Eagle. Over the past two months, there have been a record-setting six drug stings resulting in 19 arrests in the Monongahela area, where Toprani makes his home.
He's shuffled the chain of command, too, naming a lieutenant and two sergeants for the task force, and adding hand-picked local officers who he believed are worthy of the force.
"That's not by accident," he added.
He needs dedication. He needs tenacity. He needs trust.
He's given the officers pay raises and intends to ask the commissioners for a 12 percent increase in the task force's budget for 2009.
And he's been trying to mend relationships that have long been severed with state and federal drug squads. Some agencies from outside the area did not want to be associated with Pettit, who's been the target of a federal investigation.
"Remember, (Pettit's) last term began with a double homicide where he had to be ruled out as a suspect," Fischer said.
Pettit's ethics were questioned after the 2004 murders of Fred Brilla and Martin Brahler at a North Strabane Township tavern. Pettit investigated the crimes even though he owed Brilla more than $100,000 to settle a federal judgment stemming from seizure of property in a drug case.
To make matters worse, Pettit faced off last year with the Washington code enforcement office over fines he received for failing to make repairs to a house he owns on Walnut Street.
"Washington County was viewed as an island unto itself," Toprani said. "We are going to change that. I think we've turned the corner."
Now, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. trains Toprani's task force free of charge. A drug team in Apollo that has a reputation for being among the best in the business also is conducting free seminars for Toprani's task force.
"It's a relationship of trust," he said.
Renewed Mission : 9/21/2008
If folks only knew how much miney flowed thry the Washington County Courthouse and to whom to liik the other way. Illegal gambling, tip boards, sports betting, drugs, crime and more. Light sentences, no sentences. Many of thise are still there and if they are not the ones that were hand picked to replace them are as well as many of their progeny. The federal Govt. should come in and use the RICO act to clean that mess up once and for all. It is and has been a blight and den if iniquity for many years. Keep the press on Mr. Toprani. You and your family will need protection. Bless You..
Task Force : 9/21/2008
Sounds good to me - kepp on keeping on.
TASK FORCE : 9/21/2008
WHAT A JOKE, LETS SEE HE HIRES PEOPLE FROM PETERS AND CECIL, A GUY THAT WAS LET GO FOR THEFT AND LISTENS TO A THIEF. HE HAS NO CLUE ABOUT CRIMINAL LAW. LISTENS TO A GUY WHO HAS NO CLUE ABOUT CRIMINAL LAW. ANYONE COULD HAVE BEAT PETIT.
Toprani, sounds good so far : 9/22/2008
DA Toprani, From what I've read so far, you aren't the typical "Good Old Boys mentality. But the proof is in the "pudding". I've seen them come and go, but you seem to be someone who can help Washington County. I hope you are sincere and help us all in Washington County. 54 years here I hope you do what you say and not get tied up in all the beauracacy and politics. Marty Vintle Canonsburg!
Listen up TASK FORCE!!! : 9/24/2008
Look if you had the slightest clue about Toprani you would understand that he is the ONLY one to stand up to that criminal Pettit, no other attonery in Washington County took on the challenge. Do you realize that Toprani has had 3 times the amount of drug bust than Pettit last year! Also do you realize murders that were not prosecuted since 2004 were addresseed in the first few months and got two life senteces in the first few months. Ask any cop in this county and they will tell you at least they can speak to the DA and be on the same team. Also if you are so qualified, why don't you apply? Did you realize the cop from cecil invesitgated over 500 homicides, I am sure you have more experience! At least he is helping the police! Unless you are a drug dealer, criminal, Pettit loyalist or plain stupid you don't like what Toprani is doing. Maybe you should look at the DA's record since he got in office! God Bless the DA and he has done more for this county in 9 months than many politicians in years!!
: 9/29/2008
500 homicides. where? what department did he work for? fact is they are still arresting nickel and dimers.
500 homicides : 9/30/2008
Mr. Aaron investigated over 500 homicides in Camden, New Jersey for 15 years after 15 years of service in Cecil Twp. If the pusher arrested was selling drugs to your kid, you wouldn't call them a nickel and dimer. Put them ALL away!!
Been There Done that : 9/30/2008
If any one could have beat Pettit, why didn't any one RUN? No one else had the desire that Tropani had.
: 10/4/2008
i think that was for the da office helping in preparing for trial. i highly doubt that he investigated the homicides. if he did work for the police department then i apologize camden police have homicide detectives. also doing strictly "investigation" work does not qualify someone to be a street cop working drugs. i am not saying that he wont do a good job, but his experience i believe is limited also cecil and washington police have different problems and have to policed differently
: 10/6/2008
the poster that quibbles with mr aarons experience is at once misguided and uninformed if you know so much about drug cases, apply for a badge
: 10/8/2008
You have never been to Camden, New Jersey have you?? Murders happen there every ten minutes practically. Oh and how could someone that has seen that much crime know anything about drugs?! Get a clue! He is the county detective, genius he looks at all police aspects of the county. I am sick of these people bashing the DA and his staff, he & his staff have accomplished more in ten months then Pettit did in 24 years. Ask anyone in the political scene, Toprani is everywhere. As for nickel and dimers comment, no murder that has occurred in this county the suspect has not gone longer than 2 weeks on the loose. I guess those people are no concern to you. Don't worry the former good ole boys are going to come crashing down very soon and anyone involved in Pettits old regime will go with him.
: 10/8/2008
if you new anything about county detectives which you dont, you would know that they DO NOT investigate murders genius. He helps prepare for trial. every ten minutes there is a murder in camden, probably need to get the national guard involved. i don t know pettit and from what i know i dont like him. the people that have committed murder, did toprani and his people make the arrest. no. POLICE OFFICERS investigated and made the arrest and apprehension. apparently you have no knowledge whatsoever about law enforcement. i dont blame you, most people are ignorant that way. as for the people in the political scene, are you kidding me. first i would not talk to politicians and i sure wouldnt believe anything they have to say. there is a difference in fighting crime for moral reasons and fighting to get re elected. you are a joke. also i cant stand pettit, but toprani has done more in 10 months than pettit in 24 YEARS. are you just stupid or do you tend to exaggerate
You are really uninformed! : 10/9/2008
Really the county detective doesn't investigate murders, is that why he reports to crime scenes? At least this one does. Look up Camden's crime stats since you know a lot about NJ. You have one thing right he helps prepare them for trial on what he sees! I think preparing for trial is the LAWYERS job, genius. Toprani may not have put the handcuffs on those people but if you knew one police officer they would tell you that Toprani is there from beginning till the end. Wow, for not talking to politicians you sure do complain a lot about them, probably don't vote either. Well if he is getting a head start on his re-election to fight crime it is going to be a long three years. Unlike Pettit that did one or two arrest a week before the election. The biggest whiners are usually the ones that do nothing for themselves. As for what Toprani has done look back at cases from four years ago that sat there and the DA took care of them in the first few months. Pettit was too busy with his hookers! You just sound like another person that enjoys being a corruption loyalist. Plus, thanks for calling me stupid, piece of advice 'new' is not the same as 'knew'. Just FYI. Best of luck with your bitter attitude, it is helping the county out so much!
